Background:It's not the biggest car on the road, but it has proved its worth by withstanding the test of time. When Civic first arrived here in the states, the diminutive entry was sold as a subcompact. After 30 years, the front-wheel-drive vehicle has grown in size and stature merging into the compact segment. The 2001 model year ushered in the Civic sedan's seventh generation, which the current 2003 model falls into. The younger coupe version celebrated its third-generation arrival in 2001. Honda offers a myriad of body styles and trend-setting engine selections under the Civic umbrella in 2003. Civic is one of a handful of vehicles available with a hybrid (utilizing gas and electric motors) engine. Interestingly, Honda markets two of the three gas-electric hybrids currently available in North America. The two-seat Honda Insight and the four-door Toyota Prius round out the short list. Expect more gas-electric hybrids from other automakers to start trickling in during the next couple of years. Also, Civic is available in a low-volume, natural gas-powered GX sedan. Our test car, however, was the more traditional gas-only vehicle. Honda was the first Japanese automaker to build an assembly plant here in the United States tailoring vehicles to America's taste. Honda now has three assembly plants in the United States: Marysville, Ohio; East Liberty, Ohio and Lincoln, Alabama. Many Civic coupes and sedans sold in the United States are assembled in East Liberty, Ohio. Civic also offers a high performance Si hatchback that's built in England. Civic sales in March totaled 28,655, up 16.7 percent from March of 2002. Through March of this year, Honda sales accounted for 8.4 percent of all cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. which makes it the second most popular import brand in the U.S. behind its largest Japanese rival, Toyota.
Engine/trim levels: Civic is available in three trim levels for the high-volume coupe and sedan models (entry-level DX, LX and top-level EX). In addition to the natural gas-powered GX and Hybrid edition, Civic also offers a high-mileage, limited production gas-powered HX coupe. All DX, LX and EX coupes and sedans come with five-speed manual transmission. Four-speed automatic is available in every trim level. Another variance is a sporty SI hatchback edition powered by a higher-output, double-overhead cam 2.0-liter engine generating 160 horsepower. It's the only hatchback version Civic now offers. Under the hood of gas-powered Civic sedans and coupes is an aluminum-alloy, in-line, four cylinder engine with multi-point fuel injection. The up-level EX edition generated 127 horsepower, 12 more than DX and LX trims. When mated with five-speed manual transmission, fuel mileage checks in at 32 miles per gallon city and 38 m.p.g. highway. With automatic transmission, the city mileage drops a couple of miles. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons of regular unleaded fuel. All 2003 coupe and sedans are rated as ultra low emissions vehicles, some of the cleanest running engines on the road. The 2003 hybrid Civic, which debuted last year, combines a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a high-output electric motor.
Price: Honda supplied the Daily Herald with an up-level EX sedan with a five-speed manual transmission. Starting price was $17,310. After factoring in $89 for floor mats and $460 for destination charge, the bottom line added up to $17,859. An EX sedan with four-speed automatic checks in at $17,860. The lowest-priced Civic sedan is the DX trim with five speed manual transmission which starts at $13,010 ($13,810 with automatic). The lowest-priced Civic is a DX coupe with five-speed manual that checks in at $12,810. By comparison, the lowest-priced compact from Mitsubishi, the sedan-exclusive 2003 Lancer, checks in at $14,017 for an ES edition with manual transmission. Ford's 2003 LX Focus sedan with five-speed lists for $13,150 while Chevrolet's 2003 Cavalier base sedan model checks in at $14,230. Toyota's long-running Corolla (also a sedan-only vehicle) lists at $13,570 for the lowest-cost 2003 CE trim with five-speed manual.
Standard features: All sedans include a rear window defroster, AM/FM stereo with built-in digital clock, power steering, intermittent windshield wipers, adjustable steering column and reclining front bucket seats. Air conditioning and compact disc players are optional in DX, and standard everywhere else. A cassette player is optional in LX and EX. Cruise control, power door locks, power windows and power outside mirrors are standard in LX and EX, but not offered in the entry-level DX. A power moonroof is standard in EX only.
Interior: A nice development in Civic and many recently introduced compact sedans is generous headroom. Not long ago, if one ordered a compact sedan, headroom would be severely compromised; and perish the thought of adding a sunroof which would steal away even more precious space. Another feature new to 2003 sedans and coupes is a four-spoke steering wheel. Back rests in the second row fold down onto the cushions with a 60/40 split. While the Honda manual states three travelers can fit in the second row, two average-sized adults travel with optimal comfort. Seating positions are not as low as in some sports cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette, but not as high as some newer compact-sized offerings including the Ford Focus or Suzuki Aero. Nothing radical about interior design, just well-placed and easy to find gauges and dials. The instrument panel, with three circular analog gauges, now features a tri-color scheme with red needles, blue trim and white lettering. Three vertical dials in the central dashboard monitor ventilation requests (fan speed, temperature, direction); to the right is the stereo system. Below the stereo are buttons for air conditioning and rear window defroster. Headlight controls are built into the turn signal stalk. Windshield wipers monitor from a right-hand stalk. The cruise control is turned on and off from a far left-hand side dashboard switch; all other commands (resume, accelerate) are on the steering wheel. In between the front bucket seats is a small arm rest/storage bin combo, the hand-operated emergency brake and transmission shifter. Two permanently-molded, side-by-side beverage holders reside in front of the transmission shifter. Trunk and fuel door release levers are on the floor, left of the driver's seat. The trunk incorporates 12.9 cubic inches of space, more than Lancer, but slightly less than Cavalier and Corolla. A temporary spare resides under the flat-floor trunk.
Exterior: As with the interior, outward styling is more subdued than stunning. Domestic competitors including the Ford Focus and even the Chevrolet Cavalier, which is due a major makeover, have a more exciting styling. Sideview mirrors are body colored, but do not bend in, or "breakaway" when brushed against a larger object. The radio antenna is built into the square rear window. The high trunk lid creates a back-to-front slope.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 103.1 inches
Overall length: 174.6 inches
Overall height: 56.7 inches
Overall width: 67.5 inches
Curb weight: 2,513 pounds
Safety features: All sedan Civics come standard with driver and front passenger air bags, theft deterrent system, child proof rear door locks and emergency truck release. Remote keyless entry is standard in EX, optional in LX and not available in DX. Anti-lock brakes are standard in EX, but not offered in DX or LX. Traction control is not offered. Side air bags are optional in all three popular trim levels.
Warranty: Both Honda's powertrain and basic warranty are good for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). The corrosion warranty lasts five years with unlimited miles.
Final thoughts: Civic handled highway travel well with little wind noise seeping into the driving compartment at 70-mile-an-hour. Civic stands up well against the competition. Chevrolet's compact Cavalier, introduced in 1981, has not been redesigned since 1995 and is in need of a makeover soon. The spacious but noisy Dodge Neon debuted in 1995 and underwent a second-generation makeover in 2000. Civic's pricing for comparably-equipped models is a bit higher than most of these rivals, but so too is its durability and ability to hold resale value. Hyundai and Kia, two South Korean auto companies, continue making a strong push into the compact segment with lower-priced offerings backed by a 10-year extended warranty. Bad publicity from the late 1980s still lingers in the minds of some buyers concerning Hyundai quality; that's one reason for the extended warranty designed to ease the minds of potential shoppers. Early next year, General Motors will begin selling two compact, Korean-built models marketed by the Chevrolet division under the Aveo name to compete directly with the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Both Aveo models made their world debut this past February at the Chicago Auto Show. |